Training Opportunities
CROA Washington state Co-responder Retreat
Where: Center for Urban Horticulture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
When: May 13, 2023
Registration: Happening now!
About: Advanced skill training, restorative practices, and networking for co-response teams in Washington State. Capacity will be limited, and spots available only to departments who have participated in the UW/CROA Co-Response Survey.
CoRCon (Co-Responder Conference) [sold out]
Where: Spokane, WA
When: June 12-14, 2023
Website: https://www.coresponderalliance.org/CoRCon
About: ICRA is excited to host the 4th Annual National Co-Responder Conference in Spokane, WA! The conference will be held June 12th through June 14th, 2023 at The Centennial by Davenport Hotels. Come reenergize with exciting keynote speakers, learn from peers and field experts during breakout sessions, and network with other programs from across the country at CoRCon 2023!
CIT 2023 NW Regional Conference
Where: Seaside, OR
When: May 23-25, 2023
Website: https://www.cjtc.wa.gov/training-education/crisis-intervention-training/cit-2023-nw-regional-conference
Current call for presentations: at website above
About:
This two-day conference welcomes 1st Responders, behavioral health, resources, and consumers from all over Oregon, Idaho, and Washington states. The days are spent learning skills, sharing ideas, attending presentations, and networking with an emphasis on crisis intervention.
Working together as a Crisis Intervention Team is critical when responding to people in behavioral health crisis or with a substance abuse disorder. The system works better when there’s an understanding of what each entity does to help an individual.
NatCon (National Council for Mental Wellbeing) Conference
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: May 1-3, 2023
Website: https://eventscribe.net/2023/NatCon23/
About: Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of more than 3,100 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 10 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure equitable access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained more than 2.6 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges. Three days of leadership-building, organization-boosting learning from the best minds in health care –that’s what awaits you at NatCon23 from May 1-3 in Los Angeles, California. Join us for the largest conference in mental health and substance use treatment as we celebrate our shared commitment to transform communities and save lives.
NAMICon
Where: Minneapolis, MN
When: May 24-27, 2023 in Minneapolis, MN and/or June 6-8, 2023 online
Website: https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Attend-the-NAMI-National-Convention
About: Join the NAMI community for NAMICon! Whether you connect in-person, May 24-27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, or online, June 6-8, there is so much to learn and experience at NAMICon 2023. Build connections, be inspired, reenergize and reaffirm your commitment to building better lives for those affected by mental illness.
International Street Medicine Symposium
Where: London, England
When: September 28-30, 2023
Website: https://stmi.memberclicks.net/isms-19
PTACC (Police, Treatment and Community Collaborative) National Deflection and Pre-Arrest Diversion Summit
Where: Denver, CO
When: October 3-4, 2023
Registration: https://ptaccollaborative.org/conference/
About: We are excited to invite you to the 2023 Police, Treatment, and Community Collaborative’s (PTACC) National Deflection and Pre-arrest Diversion Summit taking place from October 3 – 6 in beautiful Denver, Colorado! This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn and network with peers in the field of deflection.
On days one and two (October 3 – 4), attendees will be able to learn from and engage with experts and practitioners in the field through educational sessions. Presentations and panels will deliver the latest information and strategies relating to deflection and pre-arrest diversion nationally and internationally.
Funding Opportunities
SAMHSA Opportunities in Washington
Website: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants-awards-by-state/WA/2023
Department of Justice/ Bureau of Justice Assistance Connect and Protect
Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Grants
Website: https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-bja-2023-171520
Closing: May 1, 2023
About: This opportunity will support law enforcement–behavioral health cross-system collaboration to improve public health and safety as well as responses to and outcomes for individuals with mental health disorders (MHDs) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUDs).
This solicitation is one of two solicitations available as part of the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program funding in FY 2023. For justice system-focused projects aimed to help individuals with MHDs or MHSUDs who have come into contact with the criminal justice system, are booked into jail, or are leaving a custodial setting, see the FY 2023 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program solicitation.
Department of Justice/ Bureau of Justice Assistance Mental Health Collaboration Grants
Website: https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-bja-2023-171522
Closing: March 28, 2023
About: Through this opportunity, the Bureau of Justice Assistance seeks applications for funding programs that support cross-system collaboration to improve public safety responses and outcomes for individuals with mental health disorders (MHDs) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUDs).
This solicitation is one of two solicitations available as part of the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program funding in FY 2023. For law enforcement-focused projects, see the separate FY 2023 Connect and Protect: Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Response Program solicitation.
The FY23 Implementing Crisis Intervention Teams – Community Policing Development Solicitation
Website: https://cops.usdoj.gov/cit
Closing: Monday, May 8, 2023, at 4:59 PM ET.
About: Through the decades, law enforcement has made significant improvements in its responses to people experiencing mental health crises through the development of various models of crisis intervention team (CIT) training, crisis triage centers, co-response teams, and embedded mental health and behavioral services. The evolution of these approaches has improved the safety of law enforcement and people in crisis. It has also resulted in the deflection of individuals with mental health needs away from the criminal justice system and toward the services and care they need.
The goal of FY 2023 Implementing Crisis Intervention Teams solicitation is to provide funding to support the implementation of crisis intervention teams, including embedding behavioral or mental health professionals with law enforcement agencies, training for law enforcement officers and embedded behavioral or mental health professionals in crisis intervention response, or a combination of these.
GTWO: MHFR Funds Available for Trueblood Phase I & II Regions
The Mental Health Field Response (MHFR) Grant Program (RCW 36.28A.440) assists “…local law enforcement agencies to establish and expand mental health field response capabilities, utilizing mental health professionals to professionally, humanely, and safely respond to crises involving persons with behavioral health issues with treatment, diversion, and reduced incarceration time as primary goals.”
WASPC has funds remaining under this program for agencies located in Trueblood Phase I & II areas (Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry, Lincoln, Adams, Klickitat, Skamania, Clark, Pierce, and King Counties).
WASPC will consider requests for funding that include personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, consultant/contracts, and other miscellaneous expenses. Please note that these funds can be used to start programs or to support existing programs. While agencies are encouraged to partner with other agencies or community-based organizations, it is not required.
Agencies in the areas listed are encouraged to contact Steven Briggs at sbriggs@waspc.org, or by calling (360) 259-4304 with any questions or to discuss possible uses for these funds.
NaCO County funding resources
Pierce County Behavioral Health RFP
Flyer here.
Job Openings
- Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue Community Resource Paramedic
- RCR Executive Director
- RCR Administrative Assistant
- Bellevue Fire CARES Crisis Response Social Worker
- Co-response Clinician – East Snohomish County
- Everett Community Support Specialist
- Mount Vernon Case Manager
- Tacoma Fire CARES Nurse
- Tukwila PD and Sound Co-responder
Other Opportunities
Developing Regional Efforts to Improve Interactions between Law Enforcement and People Who Use Alcohol and Drugs, hosted by the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute at the University of Washington
About: We will work with three sites in Washington to support the development of regional strategies to improve interactions between law enforcement and people who use alcohol and drugs.
- Do you want to learn ways to foster relationships among law enforcement, people who use alcohol and drugs, and other community members (e.g., service providers)?
- Are you open to increasing your capacity for empathy and doing things in a new way – that is very different than how things were done in the past? Are you open to transforming the current system?
- Would a toolkit, resources, and strategies support you and your community in increasing your ability to enact SB5476 and help people who use alcohol and drugs?
We will use a policy codesign process to help each site develop their own regional strategy and evaluation plan. Policy codesign aims to develop policies from “the ground up” that are tailored to local needs and promote community ownership. We are able to offer payments directly to participants for their time or offer reimbursement for staff time and travel paid to agencies. This process will include:
- At least five sessions with an outside facilitator guiding “design team” members through a series of activities that build relationships, identify a shared goal, and problem solve solutions.
- Researchers will support design teams in identifying relevant empirical evidence as needed.
- Design team members will be selected by site partners and likely will include people with lived/living experience of substance use and legal involvement, representatives from the recovery navigator program and/or other diversion programs reaching similar groups, local law enforcement (city, county, state), and service providers (clinical, housing, etc.).
- Interviews with design teams about the process and developed strategy, and if they think it will help.
Contact: adai@uw.edu